NOTE: The Workforce Development information was issued by the former FHWA Office of Professional and Corporate Development, but that Office's website has been removed. The Workforce Development program is codified in 23 U.S.C. 504(e), therefore the information remains in effect. The information is posted under the Transportation Enhancement Activities as a courtesy to provide the information for reference purposes.

Support Training, Education, and Workforce Development

An important provision in the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), (Sec. 5204(e)) legislation provides that funds from any of five major State core programs may be used to support 100 percent of activities related to training, education and workforce development; state matching funds will not be necessary. The core programs are the Surface Transportation Program, National Highway System, Bridge Program, Interstate Maintenance, and Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality.

Funds may be used, at the discretion of the States, for employee training, education and professional development, and for transportation career "pipeline" activities including "surface transportation career awareness, student internships and university or community college support." Professional development could include training programs, academic course study, support for short term work details or "rotational" assignments for the purpose of employee development, but may not include employee salaries.

Other workforce development provisions included in SAFETEA-LU are:

Garrett Morgan Program: funds program for outreach to elementary school and secondary school students for transportation career awareness. - $1.25 million per year, FY06-09; program established in 1997, funded for the first time in SAFTEA-LU) - Sec. 5204(d).

Freight Planning and Capacity Building Program: establishes program to support enhancements in freight transportation planning to better target investments, and to strengthen the decision making capacity of State transportation departments and local transportation agencies for freight transportation planning and systems. - $875,000 per year, FY06-09; Sec. 5204(h).

Transportation Scholarship Opportunities Program: provides authority for the USDOT Operating Administrations and for "non-governmental institutions" to establish scholarship and mentoring programs. Most USDOT Operating Administrations did not have statutory authority in this area prior to SAFTEA-LU. Operating Administration participation is discretionary, funding is not provided; Sec. 5505.